Lover Quote by Matthew B. Crawford
““The lover of excellence is prone to being drawn out of himself, erotically almost, in a way that the universalist egalitarian is not. The latter's empathy, projected from afar and without discrimination, is more principled than attentive. It is similar to bad art and mathematical shoelaces, in this regard; it is content to posit rather than to see the humanity of its beneficiaries.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Lover of Excellence” by Matthew B. Crawford, 2021
Excellence draws people inward, while universal empathy stays distant and abstract, often lacking personal attention to individuals.
In simple terms: Excellence is inward; empathy can be distant.
Key Takeaway
Balance personal mastery with genuine concern for others.
Themes
excellence
empathy
individualism
universalism
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- education
- personal development
- team management
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we combine deep personal excellence with authentic empathy?
- What risks arise when empathy is only abstract?
A Different Perspective
Universal empathy may overlook specific needs of individuals.
![“Stripped of the kind of judgments that are at the very heart of the idea of "credit", shot through with bad faith, [the mortgage broker's] work is now predicated on irresponsibility, rooted in the absence of community. Whatever lingering fiduciary consciousness he may have has become a liability…” quote by Matthew B. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b01/matthew-b-crawford-26537_rest-of-life_stripped-of-the-kind-of-judgments-that-a_1991114.jpg)
